Naim Sheikh earns recall for Sri Lanka ODIs

Left-handed opener Naim Sheikh returned to the one-day set-up after almost two years as the Bangladesh Cricket Board announced a 16-member squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka.

The ODI series is scheduled to be played from July 2-8. The first two ODIs are set to take place in Colombo, with the final match to be held in Pallekele.

Apart from Naim, the BCB opted to ring in the changes with the likes of Litton Das, Shamim Patwary, Tanvir Islam and Hasan Mahmud also making a return to the ODI squad. From the previous squad that featured in the Champions Trophy, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah retired from ODI cricket while Soumya Sarkar and Nasum Ahmed got left out.

Pace bowler Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman also returned to the national set-up following their respective injuries that forced them to miss the T20Is.

Naim so far played eight ODIs and scored 95 runs after making his debut against Zimbabwe in Sylhet in March 2020. "I think he changed his batting intent and pattern and that is what we are looking for from the third opener as there is a way Tamim and Emon bats and we are looking someone to bat with similar aggression," BCB chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain said regarding Naim.

Ashraf added they have picked five pace bowlers due to workload management as some of them are returning from injuries. "You have to understand we have picked five pacers as some of them have workload management while others are returning from injuries," he said.

Ashraf added that Soumya, who also missed the Pakistan T20I series, could not retain his place as he was injured for most part of last year while there are still concerns with him regarding a back spasm.

Squad: Mehidy Hasan Miraz (captain), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Naim Sheikh, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Litton Das, Jaker Ali Anik, Shamim Hossain, Rishad Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana,